Transcript Passive Voice Helpful notes by E.F. Adapted from Carmen Torres When do we use it? When the agent is unknown – Spanish "SE" :

Passive Voice
Helpful notes by E.F.
Adapted from Carmen Torres
When do we use it?
When the agent is unknown
– Spanish "SE" : Se venden pisos.
– Flats are sold
– Subject is omitted: Le dieron un beso a Pepita.
- Pepita was given a kiss.
To make the object of the active verb more
important
America was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus
When the description of the agent is very long
A charity record has been made by many famous names
in the world of pop music.
THE PASSIVE VERB
to BE
+
Past Participle + {complements}
(in the active tense) + (main verb) + {if needed}
BE  in the
tense of the action
+
by – agent
The agent of the action [the
subject in the active voice]
the principal verb in Past Participle
ACTIVE
She wants an ice-cream
He sent a letter
We will buy a new car next week
They have
been cutting the grass
PASSIVE
An ice-cream is
wanted
A letter was sent
A new car will be
The grass has
bought
been being cut
The passive sentence I
Robert
ACTIVE VOICE
found
Active
Subject
Active
Verb
Passive
Subject
Passive
Verb
A coin
PASSIVE VOICE
was found
a coin
Direct
Object
by
Agent
by Robert
The passive sentence II:
two-complement verbs
Robert
ACTIVE VOICE
gave
a coin
Active
Subject
Active
Verb
Direct
Object
Passive
Subject
Passive
Verb
Direct
Object
A coin
Tom
PASSIVE VOICE
to Tom
was given
was given
a coin
to Tom
Indirect
Object
by
Agent
by Robert
by Robert
Examples
1/They built this house in 1466
2/ This house was built in 1466
1/ Channel islanders speak French & English
2/ French & English are spoken by Channel
islanders
1/ This book will change your life
2/ Your life will be changed by this book
Examples
1/ They have cut the grass
2/ The grass has been cut
1/ My mother is going to give me a present
2/ I am going to be given a present by my
mother
1/ Susan wrote an e-mail to him
1/ He was written an e-mail by Susan
More examples
1/ They can’t answer your question
2/ Your question can’t be answered
1/ Someone had to take her to hospital after this
2/ She had to be taken to hospital after the crash
1/ They shouldn’t allow the children to do these things
2/ The children shouldn’t be allowed to do these things
1/ Someone must tell him if we want him to know
2/ He must be told if we want him to know
Structure of the verb
TENSES
EXAMPLES
Present Simple
Pigs are often used to find truffles
Present Continuous
My house is being redecorated at the moment
Present Perfect
I have never been given flowers on my birthday
Past Simple
This picture was painted by Picasso
Past Continuous
When I saw him he was being followed by the
police
Past Perfect
She was angry because she had already been told
three times
Future Simple
When you get there everything will be finished
Going to - Future
They are not going to be easily convinced
Conditional Simple
You would be punished if they found out
Conditional Perfect
If you hadn’t told them would I have been invited?
EXTENSION I: get, need, want
GET is used instead of BE with passive
meaning. Informal English.
I got stuck in a traffic jam
She is getting married
After NEED/WANT the -ing form can be used
with passive meaning
This job needs doing
That room wants cleaning
EXTENSION
More passive
II: get/have
stuff
HAVE/ GET something done: Arranging for or
paying for somebody to do something for you.
(Get is more informal).
HAVE + Object +
Past Participle
He had his hair cut
She got her carpet cleaned
We have had our car mended
They had got their book translated
EXTENSION
said, believed,
MoreIII:
passive
stuffthought
Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say,
Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find
1. Introductory IT is used
IT + passive verb + complete subordinate sentence
without changes
It is said that he started the fire
It is thought that she doesn't live in London
It was known that the King is coming tomorrow
EXTENSION
said, believed,
MoreIII:
passive
stuffthought
Verbs like: Believe, Think, Consider, Say,
Report, Know, Expect, Feel, Understand, Find
Subordinate subject + verb passive + subordinate
active verb in INFINITIVE.
It is said that he started the fire (action in the Past)
He is said to have started the fire (Infinitive Perfect)
It is thought that she doesn't live in London (Present)
She is thought to live in London (Infinitive Present)